The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Synth legends are not in a critical condition
This month’s Perth Festival of the Arts is set to give upcoming talent a fling – with one of Scotland’s breakthrough bands of recent years also in the spotlight.
The Fair City extravaganza returns on Wednesday for its first inperson outing for three years, but it’s not until the event’s final three days on the last weekend of the month that its rock element kicks in.
First up, Scots emo exponents Twin Atlantic will be playing at Perth Concert Hall on Friday May 27.
Led by frontman Sam Mctrusty, the Glasgow noiseniks have been operating with a slimmeddown line-up following the departure of drummer Craig Kneale last autumn, but are expected to be at full strength for their PFA appearance.
The band released their sixth album Transparency in January and kicked off a series of gigs to both promote the UK top 30 opus and to celebrate more than a decade since the release of their sophomore album Free – which spawned such career highlights as Edit Me and Make A Beast Of Myself – at Inverness Ironworks on Wednesday night.
Mctrusty, bassist Ross Mcnae and co played the first of two back-to-back sold-out dates at Glasgow Barrowland last night and they’ll arrive in Perth on the back of a clutch of English shows.
Following on from Twin Atlantic, it’ll be all eyes on the Concert Hall’s plaza for a series of gigs in a festival marquee on May 28 and 29.
The Saturday bill is headed up by Glasgow funk-soulsters Tom Mcguire And The Brassholes and crooner Luke La Volpe.
Luke is the latest music hopeful to emerge from West Lothian – home to The Snuts and Lewis Capaldi, both of whom have performed at Perth Festival in recent years.
ROCKING THE FESTIVAL
Also on the line-up are ultra-young Weegie altrock four-piece Spyres, whose early offerings have racked up over a million streams on Spotify, and fast-rising Edinburgh songsmith Joshua Grant.
Festival-goers can enjoy one of Perth’s most exciting discoveries of recent times on the Sunday bill in the shape of underground popsters Parliamo, along with Crieff-raised piano troubadour Angus Munro – returning to PFA with his band after performing a well-received solo set during last year’s online festival.
Other performers taking part in the festival include Moray-born multiinstrumental folkster Amy Papiransky, London-based Scots chanteuse Alex Amor and Dunfermline talent Shorthouse, aka Rob Mclaughlin.
More imminently, there’s a visit to Beat Generator from synth-pop legends China Crisis tonight.
The Liverpool outfit formed way back in 1979 and scored a minor hit in 1981 with their first single African And White.
However, it was the atmospheric offering Christian, from their debut album Difficult Shapes
And Passive Rhythms, that really brought the band to attention in early 1983.
CHINA CRISIS
With founding members Gary Daly (vocals/keys) and Eddie Lundon (guitar) at their core, China Crisis scored further mid-decade hits in the 1980s with Wishful Thinking, Black Man Ray and King In A Catholic Style (Wake Up).
The two latter-named singles featured on their classic third LP Flaunt The Imperfection, which benefitted from production work by Steely Dan legend Walter Becker.
The duo released their first studio album in 21 years in 2015, Autumn In The Neighbourhood, and they’ve continued to tour regularly in recent years, pandemic aside.
BGS follows up with a cracking line-up of Courier Country talent tomorrow, headed up by electro-pop five-piece Echo Machine on home turf. They’re being joined at the North Lindsay Street venue by Perth postpunk misfits Post Ironic State and Dundee dark disco duo School Of Paris, formerly known as Lull.
Elsewhere, Church provides a alternative option tomorrow with a set from Dundee mod-meetsindie crossover The 121s.
Made up of Nick Shane, Peter Nowell and Gavin Steel, the hotly-tipped outfit are in the midst of a short tour in support of their new album Wired To The Moon, which came out last month.
Meanwhile, The 121s were at Mucky’s in Perth last night, Aberdeen’s Drummonds tonight, with a visit to Room 2 in Glasgow on Sunday to follow tomorrow’s home town show.
AROUND TOWN
Old Dunfermline In Colour Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JA, 01383 602302.
Fri May 13, 2pm & 7.30pm, £10. This nostalgic trip back in time features old images and archive footage of Dunfermline. onfife.com
Rose And Thistle Markets
Holy Trinity Church Hall, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews, KY16 9QF, 01334 848842.
Sat May 14, 10am-3pm, free. This monthly event features a group of local makers, bakers and artists. holyt.co.uk
The Psychology Of Serial Killers
Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JA, 01383 602302.
Sat May 14, 7.30pm, £19. Jennifer Rees delves into the dark minds of serial killers. onfife.com
Championship Cat Show Bells Sports Centre, 11 Hay Street, Perth, PH1 5HS, 01738 492460.
Sat May 14, 11.30am4.30pm, £3-£5. Hosted by The Nor’ East of Scotland Cat Club and the Siamese Cat Society of Scotland, this array of beautiful felines is a must-see. The show features a wide range of unusual breeds including Burmese, Tonkinese, Orientals and Suffolks. noreastcatclub.com
D’arcy Thompson Zoology Museum Saturday Openings D’arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, Carnelley Building, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN, 01382 384310.
Sat May 14, 2-4.30pm, free. Opportunity to browse through the collections of the Zoology Museum on the second Saturday of every month. dundee. ac.uk/museum/collections/ zoology
Specifically Vintage Markets
Roseangle Kitchen Cafe, 130 Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4JW, 01382 699765. Sat May 14, 11am-4pm, free. Local market with a fabulous mix of genuine vintage featuring vinyl, fashion and homewares. facebook.com/ Specificallyvintage
Ukraine Doves Of Peace: Needle Felting
Falkland Centre for Stewardship, The Stables, Falkland Estate, Falkland, KY15 7AF, 01337 858838. Sat May 14, 10.30am-2pm, free. Show your support for the people of Ukraine by creating doves of peace. Using felt and needles, you will be shown how to create a beautiful dove of peace then mount it on a wood slice. centreforstewardship. org.uk
Artay: Pop-up Gallery
Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, 01738 621031.
Thu 19, 10am-6pm.
Fri 20 & Sat 21 May, 10am7.30pm. Sun 22 May, 127.30pm, free.
The large outdoor marquee on the Horsecross Plaza has become one of the most highly anticipated and popular events during the Perth Festival. This curated exhibition of established Scottish artists and fresh new talent is woven together in this unmissable pop-up gallery in the outdoor plaza of Perth Concert Hall. horsecross. co.uk
The British Museum Spotlight Loan: Troy: Beauty And Heroism
The Mcmanus: Dundee’s Art Gallery And Museum, Albert Square, Meadowside, Dundee, DD1 1DA, 01382 307200.
Thu 19 May-sun 14 August, 10am-5pm, free. Helen and Achilles are central characters in the story of the Trojan War. Each is a fascinating and complex figure. Focusing on significant moments in their lives on the themes of beauty and heroism, dramatic objects appear in Dundee. mcmanus.co.uk
Perth Festival Of The Arts
Various venues, Perth, 01738 621031, until Sun May 29, times and prices vary. Music, comedy, theatre, dance and visual arts are all up for grabs at this festival. perthfestival. co.uk
Fannies And Belters
Dudhope Park and Castle, Dudhope Street, Dundee, DD1, until Sat June 11, various times, £12. You’ll either die laughing or be completely mortified as Scotland’s Year of Stories continues with an explosive new history walking tour. From suffragettes to slavery and scandals, this Dark Dundee themed walking tour isn’t suitable for children. ddtours.co.uk
St Andrews Town Walking Tour
Martyr’s Memorial, The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AT, 01414740746, until Mon December 19, 11am, £12. A leisurely walking tour through the historic town of St Andrews. walkingtoursin. com/standrews
ART The Loving Earth Project: Caring For The World We Love
Falkland Estate, The Stables, Falkland Estate, Falkland, KY15 7AF, 01337 858838, until Sun May 15, 10am-4pm. A display of textile art created by communities across the globe to voice their personal experiences, hopes and ambitions around climate change. The Loving Earth Project calls on individuals, schools and community groups to design a 30cm x 30cm textile panel’ which celebrates what they love about the Earth but which is threatened by growing environmental breakdown. falklandestate.co.uk
Design For Our Times
V&A Dundee, 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee, DD1 4EZ, 01382 411611, until Sun June 19, 10am-5pm, free. Material innovation for our contemporary age as Design For Our Times offers sustainable solutions to overconsumption and material waste through the innovative work of selected designers based in Scotland. Discover how designers are developing ingenious solutions and using unexpected materials in new ways, from biodegradable mycelium and spent grain to construction waste. vam. ac.uk/dundee
When It Rains, We Harvest’ Cuando Llueve, Cosechamos’ El Niño And Abundance In A Peruvian Fishing Community
The Scottish Fisheries Museum, St Ayles, Harbourhead, Anstruther, KY10 3AB, 01333 310628, until Sun June 19, Wedsun 10am-4pm, £9 (£7; under 5s free with each adult admission). This new exhibition is set to destroy negative images of the extreme weather phenomenon El Niño, showing the fishing and farming opportunities it has brought to the Sechura Desert in Northern Peru and exploring how other communities might take a similar adaptive approach to the effects of climate change. scotfishmuseum. org
Mis(sing) Information
Perth Museum And Art Gallery, 78 George Street, Perth, PH1 5LB, 01738 632488, until Sun June 19, Mon, Thu-sun 10am5pm, free. Curated by Dundee-based visual artist and curator Saoirse Amira Anis, Mis(sing) Information features work by Tayo Adekunle, Nkem Okwechime, Tako Taal and Natasha Ruwona. This showcase of work from Black artists allows them to document and present their own history, drawing attention to the whitewashed version of history traditionally taught in Scotland. culturepk.org.uk
Over The Garden Wall: 50 Years Of The Botanic Garden
Tower Building, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN, 01382 384310, until Fri June 24, Mon-wed.
Fri 9.30am-7pm, free. The University Of Dundee’s Botanic Garden marked its 50th birthday on 23 October 2021. This exhibition in the Tower Foyer Gallery celebrates that achievement, showing how a former potato field in the city’s west end has become a valued community space with an impact well beyond anything its founders could have imagined. dundee. ac.uk/museum
Gableopolis: The James Gray Low Collection
Montrose Museum, Panmure Place, Montrose, DD10 8HE, 01674 662660, until Sat June 25, Thu-sat 10am-3pm, free. Rarely seen views of Montrose in bygone days as seen through the collection of watercolour paintings from James G Low who lived and worked in Montrose more than 100 years ago. angusalive.scot
Landing The Catch
The Signal Tower Museum, Ladyloan, Arbroath, DD11 1PU, 01241 435329, until Sat June 25, Thusat 10am-3pm, free. An exhibition of black and white photographs taken in the 1980s by the late Jonathan Ogilvie of the Arbroath fishing fleet. Recording the processes, people, boats and fishing in and around Arbroath, the images provide a fascinating view of the town’s fishing heritage. angus.gov.uk
World View: Travelling The Globe Through Art & Design
Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, University Of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN, 01382 384310, until Fri July 22, Mon-fri 9.30am-7pm, free. Over the past two years the pandemic has prevented most of us from travelling. At the same time, we are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of travel. This exhibition presents an opportunity to see the world remotely through the creative eyes of previous travellers over the past 200 years. dundee.ac.uk/ museum
Douglas Gordon: k.364
Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DY, 01382 432444, until Sun August 7.
Tue & Wed, Fri-sun, 11am6pm (Thu 11am-7pm), free. The Turner Prizewinner returns to film installation for his latest meditative work, as he follows two Israeli musicians of Polish descent as they travel from Germany to Poland by train. dca.org.uk
Angus Guildry Panels
Meffan Museum and Art Gallery, 20 West High Street, Forfar, DD8 1BB, 01307 464123, until Fri August 19.
Tue-sat 10am-4pm, free. A chance to view the collection of historic early 19th-century painted wood panels showing the Heraldic Arms of the various trading Guilds of the royal burghs of Angus. angusalive.scot
Michael Clark: Cosmic Dancer
V&A Dundee, 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee, DD1 4EZ, 01382 411611, until Sun September 4, 10am-5pm, £6-£12. This exciting new exhibition delves into the process of acclaimed dancer/ choreographer Michael Clark’s collaborations with artists, designers, musicians and performers, providing a powerful insight into one of Scotland’s most remarkable creative minds. vam.ac.uk/ Dundee
A Love Letter To Dundee: Photographs By Joseph Mckenzie 1964-1987
The Mcmanus: Dundee’s
Art Gallery and Museum, Albert Square, Meadowside, Dundee, DD1 1DA, 01382 307200, until Sun September 4, Daily 10am5pm, free. Exhibition of black and white photography by Joseph Mckenzie, which documents the changing fortunes of Dundee’s waterfront and its people. mcmanus.co.uk
The 1953 Coronation Medal: Soldier Stories The Black Watch Castle And Museum, Balhousie Castle, Hay Street, Perth, PH1 5HR, 01738 638152, until Fri September 30, 9.30am4.30pm, £10 (£4.25-£7.50; under fives free); family ticket £23.50. As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, this exhibition highlights the 1953 Coronation medals in The Black Watch’s collection and explores the stories behind the soldiers to whom they were awarded. theblackwatch.co.uk
Migrations: A Field Study Of Adversity
Meffan Museum and Art Gallery, 20 West High Street, Forfar, DD8 1BB, 01307 491771, until Sat October 29, Tue-sat 10am4pm, free. Artist Derek Robertson is a renowned wildlife artist and a wellknown contributor to bird research in Scotland. While studying and sketching the migration of birds, he realised how some aspects related to the desperate journeys of refugees. His paintings bring together the issues of climate change and refugee crises using birds as a metaphor for people. angusalive.scot
The Street At The Mcmanus
The Mcmanus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, Albert Square, Meadowside, Dundee, DD1 1DA, 01382 307200, until Sun January 8, Mon-sat 10-5pm.
Sun 12.30-4.30pm, free. Take a walk down memory lane and immerse yourself in The Street which recreates the windows of an old toy shop and pawn shop while also giving you a glimpse into ye olde establishments which sold shoes and furniture. These museum favourites span a 150-year period, looking at the history of retail and brewing in Dundee. mcmanus.co.uk
BOOKS Guy Gordon On The Highland Vet’
Topping & Company Booksellers, 7 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews, KY16 9HG, 01334 585111.
Fri May 13, 8-9pm, £5£16.99. Guy Gordon, one of the stars of Channel 5’s The Highland Vet discusses what working in one of Britain’s most beautiful and remote locations really involves. Depicting the highs and lows, ups and downs and ins and outs of daily work throughout the year, his book shows how truly magical and special a place Scotland’s northern Highlands are, as well as the animals and people who call the region home. toppingbooks.co.uk
An Evening With Stuart Macbride
AK Bell Library, 2-4 York Place, Perth, PH2 8EP, 01738 444949.
Wed May 18, 7pm, £5. Stuart Macbride discusses his eagerly anticipated new book No Less The Devil, featuring Detective Sergeant Lucy Mcveigh in a shocking new case. culturepk.org.uk
In Their Own Words Angus Archives, Restenneth Priory, Forfar, DD8 2SZ, 01307 468644, until Sat July 30, Tue-sat 10am-4pm, free. Celebrating Scotland’s Year Of Stories, this archive display documents some of Angus’ literary figures, with letters, photographs, and the works of Violet Jacob, JM Barrie, and others. angus.gov.uk/history/ archives
COMEDY
Dylan Moran: We Got This Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, 01738 621031.
Fri May 13, 8pm, £26. The Irish comic and actor is back with his own brand of surrealist observational comedy, as he continues to navigate the weirdness of modern life. horsecross. co.uk
Simon Amstell: Spirit Hole
Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5UW, 01738 621031. Wed May 18, 8pm, £25. Stand-up and former Buzzcocks presenter brings his acerbic, selfdeprecating humour to present a ‘blissful, spiritual, sensational exploration of love, sex, shame, mushrooms and more’. horsecross.co.uk
Stand-up Comedy
Ft. Chris Dinwoodie
& Viv Gee
Number 57, 57-58 Dock Street, Dundee, DD1 3DU, 01382 200387.
Thu May 19, 7-10.30pm, £7-£8.14. Things are taking a magical turn at Number 57 as hit comedian-magician Chris Dinwoodie takes to the stage, joined by host Viv Gee and musical comic Chris Iskander. facebook.com/ number57dundee/
DANCE
Lord Of The Dance: 25 Years Of Standing Ovations
Alhambra Theatre, 35 Canmore Street, Dunfermline, KY12 7NX, 01383 740384.
Thu 19 & Fri 20 May, 8pm. Sat 2.30pm & 8pm, £30-£55. The Irish dance phenomenon created by Michael Flatley returns to celebrate a quarter century. alhambradunfermline.com
FAMILY
The Mcdougalls Big Splash!
Lochgelly Centre, Bank Street, Lochgelly, KY5 9RD, 01592 583303.
Sun May 15, 2pm, £7 (family £6.25 each). This children’s theatre company return with a brand new live musical show as we say hello to Max, Auntie Aggie and Morag the Rabbit, and swim deep under the sea for an enchanting adventure. onfife.com
Messy Museum
Perth Museum And Art Gallery, 78 George Street, Perth, PH1 5LB, 01738 632488.
Tue May 17, 10.15am & 11.30am, £3 £3 for 1 Adult and 1 Child (£1.50 for additional children). Come along and get messy in this family art workshop. culturepk.org.uk
Big Kid Circus
Montrose Links, Traill Drive, Montrose, DD10 8SW, 07766 552211, until Sun May 22, times vary, £8.99. Big Kid Circus brings us MAYHEM, a new show full of excitement for the whole family and loads of surprises to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. bigkidcircus.co.uk
Blast Off!
Perth Museum And Art Gallery, 78 George Street, Perth, PH1 5LB, 01738 632488, until Sun May 29, Mon, Thu-sat 10am5pm, free. Step out of the museum and into space’ as a cosmic playscape will leave you floating above the Earth, walking on the Moon and playing in the stars. Created by Perthshire design studio Fun Makes Good, Blast Off! is an intergalactic interactive zone that will surround you with giant murals of planets, where both children and adults can build, dress up, read, and space-walk together through the galaxy. culturepk.org.uk
Space: Fact And Fiction
Perth Museum And Art Gallery, 78 George Street, Perth, PH1 5LB, 01738 632488, until Sun May 29, Mon, Thu-sat 10am-5pm, free. When it comes to outer space, what is fact and what is fiction? This exhibition features replica props from some of our favourite television shows and movies, inviting visitors to ponder the question of alien life and what they really know. culturepk.org.uk
MUSIC
The Elephant Sessions Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5UW, 01738 621031.
Fri May 13, 8pm, £18. Elephant Sessions transcend boundaries having exploded onto the indie folk scene with their last album, All We Have Is Now. horsecross.co.uk
Echo Machine
Beat Generator Live, 70 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1PS, 01382 229226.
Sat May 14, 8pm, £8.80. Echo Machine will play their first hometown headline show with bruised melodies and glamour, euphoria and darkness and every emotion in between. beatgenerator. co.uk
Rob Lamberti: A Celebration Of
The Songs & Music Of George Michael
Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee, DD1 3BB, 01382 434940.
Sat May 14, 8pm, £29-£35.
With some of George Michael’s personal musicians joining Rob Lamberti’s band, this performance is guaranteed to hypnotise the senses of any Wham fan. leisureandculturedundee. com
Perth Piano Sundays: Steven Osborne
Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, 01738 621031.
Sun May 15, 3-5pm, £14-£23 (£6-£23). Worldrenowned Scottish pianist Steven Osborne plays a programme of Debussy, a composer with whom he feels a great affinity. horsecross.co.uk
Blues Jam Night
Twa Tams, 79-81 Scott Street, Perth, PH2 8JR, 01738 580948.
Thu May 19, 7.4511.45pm, free. Join Pete Caban and his house band for a night of blues. thetwatamsperth.com
The Brewin Dolphin Gala Opening Concert With Scottish Opera
Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, 01738 621031.
Thu May 19, 7.30-10pm, £26.50-£41.50 (children £11.50). Scottish Opera presents an eclectic programme of moving pieces to open the Perth Festival including excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart’s Don Giovanni alongside Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. horsecross. co.uk
THEATRE
One Mississippi Kirriemuir Town Hall, 28-30 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, DD8 4BS.
Fri May 13, 7.30pm, £9£12. This hard-hitting verbatim play explores how the impact of childhood experiences shape men’s adult lives, and the journey it takes them on. visitangus. com
Midlife Is A Cabaret!
Rothes Halls, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, KY7 5NX, 01592 612121.
Fri May 13, 7pm, £12.50. As part of the Pause Not Full Stop menopause project, there’s entertainment from Red Velvet Revelry, Raymond Mearns and Pauline Eyre. onfife.com
Friends! The Musical Parody
Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee, DD1 3BB, 01382 434940. Tue May 17, 7.30pm, £28. Friends! The Musical Parody celebrates and pokes fun at the wacky misadventures of the group of 20-something pals we love from the hit TV show as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life, and love in 1990s Manhattan. leisureandculturedundee. com
Ladies Of Letters
Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5UW, 01738 621031, until Sat May 14. Fri 7.30pm; Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £12.50-£25.50 (£12.50-£19.50). Starring Tessa Peake-jones and Gwyneth Strong (both stalwarts of Only Fools and Horses), this is a riotously funny, sharply observant comedy, about women finding their voices later in life, adapted by acclaimed writer Jonathan Harvey. horsecross.co.uk
The Bookies
Dundee Rep Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee, DD1 1PB, 01382 223530, until Sat May 21.
Tue & Wed.
Fri 7.30pm; Thu.
Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £11-£24 (£11-£22). Michelle, Pat, John (staff) and Harry (punter) spend their days in a rundown Edinburgh bookies. One day things take an unexpected turn and Pat wonders if it’s odds-on he’ll lose his job. Bad things happen to bad people, they say; and as the tensions rise and accusations fly, the mystery deepens. dundeerep.co.uk